In Christchurch, the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) and Healthy Christchurch are encouraging people to get involved in the Wellbeing Game.

The game encourages people to actively practice the five winning ways to wellbeing – connect, give, take notice, keep learning and be active. Evidence shows building these activities into everyday life results in greater creativity, higher productivity, better social cohesion and reduced physical illness.

To play the game, people keep track of how they spend time on the five winning ways to wellbeing and enter the results into a website www.thewellbeinggame.org.nz. The aim is to collect as many hours spent on the winning ways as possible before the game finishes on 9 November.

MHF chief executive Judi Clements says the game is easy, fun and open to everyone.

“Many of the things we already enjoy are good for us. The Wellbeing Game provides a fun way to capture the hours we spend staying well, but it also challenges us to do more,” Ms Clements says.

People can participate in the game as individuals or form a team. The online leader board shows how you’re performing.

Michelle Whitaker from Healthy Christchurch says the Game has been piloted in three places over the last year and the evaluation showed players enjoyed becoming more mindful of their mental and physical wellbeing.

“Playing the Game makes you more aware of what good things you are already doing, how easy it is to tweak your usual activities to get more out of them, and encourages us to embrace new opportunities.

“After two challenging years the Game provides Cantabrian’s with a golden opportunity to focus on the things that improve happiness and wellbeing.”

Michelle Whitaker says that taking part and improving your wellbeing is the major prize, but there are also prizes for the best team and individual.